Head 3.8 in standard length, 5.0 in total length. Depth of body 2.1 in standard length, 2.7 in total length. Eye diameter 3.2 in head, 1.2 in snout and about 1.2 in convex interorbital space. Dorsal profile of head convexly rounded. Corner of mouth slightly nearer to eye than to hind border of preopercle. Teeth serrate, 9 on each side of upper jaw and 12 on each side of lower jaw. First dorsal fin spine short, spines increasing in length to the last, it being about twice eye diameter in length. Third anal fin spine bout 1.5 eye diameter. Pectoral fin longer than head; ventral fin short, about 2/5 eye diameter shorter than head.
Number of spines and rays in the dorsal fin: IX, 24; number of spines and rays in the anal fin: III, 23; number of rays in the pectoral fin: ii, 14; number of spines and rays in the ventral fin: I, 5; number of scale rows along the lateral line: about 150; number of horizontal scale rows usually counted from origin of the dorsal fin to the lateral line and from anal origin to the lateral line: 12+52.